…Nigerian Army confirms presence of Dangerous Mercenaries with arrests of four Pakistani nationals working as trainers for Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in the North-East
*Links illegal mining in parts of Nigeria to financing of banditry and kidnapping, acknowledges effort by DSS to improve public awareness via lectures and publicity campaigns
*Warns: ‘Nigeria’s welcoming attitude towards foreigners should be accompanied by greater security awareness’
*Reveals: ‘Some foreign nationals possesses private or intelligence-related agendas, gadgets that may not be immediately apparent to the Nigerian authorities or public’
*“A lot of foreign agents have entered Nigeria and are taking advantage of the lack of security awareness among the people. The security agencies must investigate it and find out the people behind it. I can authoritatively tell you that Zamfara, Nasarawa and Kaduna are among states with significant natural resources that have not been adequately monitored and regulated by law enforcement operatives”–AMACHREE
*“The Nigerian Security Forces apprehended a suspected Moroccan ISIS-linked operative following a failed ISWAP attack in Cross Kauwa (Kukawa LGA) and operations around Lake Chad. Foreign criminals have introduced higher technical sophistication to the insurgency, including drone operations for surveillance and targeted attacks, construction of high-grade Improvised Explosive Devices and advanced ambush design and cross-border tactical coordination in escalated tactics” –Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai
*BY LINDELL BLUMTON KELVIN/INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER Inc USA Reporting LIVE from Washington DC
THE road millions of Nigerians are presently embarking upon to the up-coming 2027 elections in Africa’s most populous black nation may not all be a rosy-route as latest intelligence expose made by a former senior officer of the Department of State Services (DSS) Dennis Amachree may have raised imminent concerns over the activities of foreign nationals in Nigeria, warning that some may be operating in the country as undercover agents for purpose beyond legitimate business or residence, with an ulterior motive “in the Nigeria’s elections”, even as the Nigerian Army recently confirmed the invasion of the nation by dangerous mercenaries, who are bandits and terror group ready to cause chaos and leave behind lawlessness at its trail.
Amachree raised the concern during an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, Sahara TV news channel.
The former DSS officer, who recently published a memoir titled DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield, said Nigeria’s welcoming attitude towards foreigners should be accompanied by greater security awareness.
According to him, some foreign nationals could have private or intelligence-related agendas or gadgets that may not be immediately apparent to the Nigerian authorities or public.
“A lot of foreign agents have entered Nigeria and are taking advantage of the lack of security awareness among the people,” he said.
Amachree, however, acknowledged efforts by the DSS to improve public awareness through lectures and publicity campaigns.
He also raised concerns over the movement of arms into the country, saying security agencies should investigate the sources of weapons intercepted at Nigeria’s borders and establish their intended recipients.
According to him, the issue is particularly significant amid ongoing political and electoral activities in the country, regarding the Nigeria 2027 elections.
“The security agencies must look into it and find out the people behind it,” he said.
Amachree further linked illegal mining in parts of Nigeria to the financing of banditry and other criminal activities.
He identified Zamfara, Nasarawa and Kaduna among states with significant natural resources that he said had not been adequately monitored and regulated.
The former DSS officer compared the situation with the regulation of Nigeria’s oil industry, arguing that stronger government oversight was needed to prevent the exploitation and illicit export of solid mineral resources.
According to him, some foreign nationals, particularly itinerant Chinese operators, recruit local residents to engage in crude extraction of mineral resources before the resources are exported.
He further alleged that criminal groups, including bandits, had increasingly become involved in the illegal mining economy.
“Remember the bandits occupy the ungoverned spaces, so they fund their operations through illegal mining and kidnapping,” he said.
Amachree said minerals extracted from areas controlled by criminal groups were sold through financiers, with some of the proceeds subsequently used to purchase arms for criminal operations.
He therefore called on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals involved in financing terrorism and banditry.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army confirmed the arrest of four Pakistani nationals working as foreign mercenaries and trainers for Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the North-East.
*Key Details of Foreign Infiltration:
*Location: Maiduguri and the joint operations area in Borno State.
*Arrests & Operatives:
*The Nigerian Army arrested four Pakistani nationals serving as arms dealers and tactical trainers for terror groups.
*Security forces also apprehended a suspected Moroccan ISIS-linked operative following a failed ISWAP attack in Cross Kauwa (Kukawa LGA) and operations around Lake Chad
*Escalated Tactics: According to Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar (Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai), foreign operatives have introduced higher technical sophistication to the insurgency, including:
* Drone operations for surveillance and targeted attacks.
*Construction of high-grade Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
*Advanced ambush design and cross-border tactical coordination
Broader Regional Context: Recent United Nations and military assessments highlight a rising influx of foreign fighters from the Middle East and Asia, adding pressure on Nigerian counterinsurgency efforts alongside ongoing military reorganizations such as the deployment of the Nigerian Army’s 10th Division.
*Additional reports from Sahara TV
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